We'll be in Yosemite in September. Since my wife is recovering from a broken foot, we don't expect her to be able to do very long hikes so she'll probably start some stuff with me, go back to the car and then come pick me up later. Since I'll largely be out of cellphone and walkie-talkie range, I'm thinking of getting satellite communicators for simple messaging (some basic "No, I haven'tby DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I never met him but it was clear from his presence here that he loved the place dearly. Always very sad when we lose such a dear friend of Yosemite.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
TM Lodge is (yet again) staying closed this season (we had reservations which we made last fall and Aramark canceled them several weeks ago) so I doubt that White Wolf will open (I assume, btw, that you're referring to the tent cabins at WW rather than the campground...no idea about the CG).by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I wonder if we should simply keep those reports of "secret places" in a private forum for members who have somehow demonstrated a respect for the sanctity of the place, its flora & fauna. Obviously this isn't the only site out there but for our regulars here who still feel so inclined to post such reports, it might help. Like parklover, I don't get to Yosemite anywhere near as muby DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quoteeeek Trail Crew is planning to blast a boulder on the Chilnualna Falls Trail out of Wawona on Tuesday, May 24. There will be short closures on the trail that day. That'll be one big explosion if they plan to blast it clear out of Wawona!by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotewhiteeagles Great, thank you. Planning on doing it in about a wee’s time. I'm sure that's a typo for "...in about a week's time" but, in this case, the typo was equally accurate and much more amusing!by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I know I'm not the only history junky on this board so I'm wondering if anybody here has ever given any thought to why there aren't any (well, not many) interpretive signs around the Valley identifying significant points of historical interest? For example, there's the sign near the base of the Four Mile Trail saying that "Teddy Roosevelt slept here" but nothing about the fact that theby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover If you are talking about the really small sign on the fence, it has been there for years. Speaking of the fence, anybody remember when that was installed? When I first started going to Yosemite (mid 90's), my recollection is that there was only a small sign saying "Fern Springs" here but otherwise there was no fencing or other obstructions.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek The only access to the Mariposa Grove is the four-mile round-trip hike (with 500 feet of elevation change) from the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza (near South Entrance). Well, you could also take the trail from Wawona to the upper grove. Admittedly, that's about 12mi roundtrip (plus whatever hiking you'd do within the Grove itself) and 2000 feet of elevation gain so it's a more ambitiby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Glad this one's out now, Paul! I've got my order into Amazon already!by DavidK42 - General Discussion
Any idea how long this is in effect? We have reservations at Yose West for a few nights the 2nd week in September, followed by four nights at TM Lodge. I assume that both of those constitute "staying overnight in the park" even though they're not in the "includes reservations for..." list (I know they were last year).by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Any word on whether TM Lodge will be open next year?by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It doesn't take much for the conditions to change. We were staying at Yosemite West during the Rim Fire. For the first few days, although it looked like Armageddon when you stood on the south rim and looked north, we had wonderfully clear conditions where we were. After a few days, the wind shifted overnight and we had an uncomfortable but "doable" hike near Bridalveil Creek CG in theby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotewherever I don't expect to be doing this in another 20 years. Only 2% of people who reach age 80 also reach age 100 (see link). It's good to do this stuff while you still can. My hiking buddy is already thumping for a Tenaya Canyon traverse this Fall. We'll see. You were already one of my heroes (and I didn't realize just how much I missed your incredibly detailed posts until I saw thiby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
FWIW, TM Lodge was open in 2019...we stayed there in September of that year. I remember the "too much snow" year but it was at least a year or two earlier (I'd have to check my records for the exact date).by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Was this only about the campground or also about TM Lodge? According to this thread, TM Lodge isn't opening this year.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
if you google something like "skiiers half dome" you'll get a ton of different news outlets covering the story. Here's just one that's not behind a paywall: https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/2-skiers-defy-death-in-descent-of-yosemites-half-dome/ Fresno Bee also has a video up on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peKB2CepKQc&ab_channel=FresnoBee From the picturesby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Nice report and a good homage to the winter-rangers-format! Glad you didn't hurt anything more than your ego on that fall.by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
It may or may not help you but I believe that one way around the reservations is to stay at lodging in the park (I'm not sure if Yose West would be included). A valid reservation would automatically get you a day-use pass for the duration of your stay.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Aside from seeing several articles online about the loss of my beloved trees (*), I have a friend who lives in Wawona and his descriptions of what it was like to be there during the worst of the winds evoked that most extraordinarily rare of reactions from me: relief not to be in Yosemite (and I even enjoyed being there during the Rim Fire)! He had 4 very large trees (mostly incense cedars...oneby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Very sorry to hear all that. JT is a lovely little park with a really wide variety of environments, from literal oases to abandoned mining camps...mountains and deserts...crowded and deserted. The town of JT is also quite fun with a surprising number of wonderful restaurants (should clarify that it's about 7 years since we were last there...I sure hope those restaurants are still there...from tby DavidK42 - General Discussion
We've only stayed there once and it was many years ago. I agree with all of parklover's comments (although we stayed in the main building in a room without a bathroom). Although we usually stay in Yosemite West when in the lower part of the Park, we always visit the Wawona at least once or twice...usually to have dinner and always to catch Tom Bopp. To me, the biggest draw of the Wawona is theby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for putting this together, Steve. I'd have gladly watched 4 times as much footage! Such a gorgeous and magical area!by DavidK42 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quoteeeek 13--Small children carry off my organized clouds of mosquitoes. I have to assume this is supposed to say "Small children are carried off by organized clouds of mosquitos." but the original version has interesting connotations, too!by DavidK42 - General Discussion
Well, I don't know if it impacts the Grill but I just got a phone call from Aramark/Yose Hospitality telling me that White Wolf and TM Lodge will not open this year. It's been obvious for quite a while that that was probably going to be the case but very disappointing anyway...this'll be the first year in a couple of decades that I won't be going to Yosemite.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
From the linked page: Some facilities and services that have been offered in the past will not be possible this year due to the pandemic. Shuttle buses, High Sierra Camps, and Housekeeping Camp will not open this year. Additional services may be available as conditions warrant. Any ideas on whether or not "High Sierra Camps" includes White Wolf? Last time I emailed them, I got aby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteCoolburn I CARE! Thanks for the update, I have multiple contingent plans in Yosemite this summer: ...Yosemite West Cabin... I wonder how they'll classify Yose West...technically, it's not in the Park (even though it's only accessible through the Park) so does that count towards the "staying in the Park" or the "day use" counts? We normally split our stays between Yby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
FWIW, it looks from my browser history like it was essentially the same article in the Sacramento Bee. Both articles say: A memo drafted by union representatives of Yosemite workers and circulated by the employees said a number of concessions will limit operations or remain closed, according to the Fresno Bee. The concessions include Yosemite Valley lodgings, restaurants, shops and a numbeby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Although I'd not received anything from Aramark, I thought I HAD read that the non-opening was official but I can't recall where I saw that now.by DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Last September I booked 5 nights at White Wolf and paid the usual one-night deposit. Since White Wolf will not open this year, does anybody know when they'll issue refunds? I emailed the reservation line a couple of days ago but haven't gotten a response yet (I have no idea if anybody's even checking the email). I haven't bothered trying to call (going on the assumption that wait times would bby DavidK42 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion